Jesus Christ, Part 1

The true measure of being a proficient Christian is not merely in outward appearance, knowledge, or actions; it is exemplified by embodying the love described in 1 Corinthians 13, which includes qualities like patience, kindness, and selflessness. Shawn McCraney emphasizes that genuine Christianity is demonstrated through love for God and others, surpassing denominational or doctrinal adherence, and this is akin to the real "swimming" of the Christian faith, proving one's genuine commitment to following Christ.

True Christianity is characterized by love that mirrors Christ's love, and not merely by faith or knowledge, indicating that the most exemplary Christians are those who exhibit profound love. The understanding of Jesus and interpretations of his presence in the Old Testament vary widely, with some seeing extensive allusions, while others find no direct references, highlighting the complexity and divergence in biblical interpretation between different Christian and LDS perspectives.

Shawn explains that the New Testament writers and apostles viewed the Old Testament as containing numerous allusions to Jesus Christ, suggesting these were types and foreshadowings of His life and mission, though not explicitly mentioned. Meanwhile, Joseph Smith's teachings in the Book of Mormon went further by explicitly associating Old Testament prophecies with Jesus, reinterpreting narratives to offer clearer testimonies of Him, with detailed knowledge about His life and birth, strengthening believers' faith by providing greater certainty.

The Book of Mormon writers, unlike those in the Bible, predicted Jesus's exact name and his birth occurring precisely 600 years after Lehi's departure from Jerusalem, but later narratives within the book seem less certain about His arrival. Additionally, while the LDS Church claims to know the exact date of Jesus's birth based on Doctrine and Covenants 20:1, historians and scholars generally agree that Jesus was likely born between 4 and 7 BC, with the translators gradually transforming His name from Yeshua to Jesus over the centuries.

The Nephite prophet Jacob was informed that the name "Christ" would refer to Jesus centuries before his birth, a name later asserted in Joseph Smith's inspired translation of Genesis as central to salvation. This teaching compares the Christian and LDS views of Jesus, with Joseph Smith claiming to have restored the name "Jesus Christ" to the Genesis texts, suggesting it was originally omitted by biblical translators.